Last year, I wrote about James Dunbar’s adorable book Bang!, a cartoon history of the origin of the Universe. It’s really cute and great for kids, and now he’s followed it up with a sequel: It’s Alive!, about how life originated on Earth.
Like the first book, it’s well done, simplified without being dumbed down, and actually fun to read. I imagine parents would get a kick out of reading it with their kids, and I love the idea of solid science, whimsically portrayed, so that both young ‘uns and grown ups can enjoy it.
The book is available for free as a PDF, or $15.95 for a paperback version.
August 22nd, 2011 at 2:52 pm
“The book is available for free as a PDF”
Too bad it’s not downloadable from the website.
“$15.95 for a paperback version”
Not in the Apple bookstore.
August 22nd, 2011 at 3:00 pm
Huh… ‘prequel’ to Larry Gonick’s series…..[?]
J/P=?
August 22nd, 2011 at 3:00 pm
@macrat – all you have to do is email him to get a copy…and why would a paperback be in a digital bookstore…?
August 22nd, 2011 at 3:11 pm
You KNOW the fundies will be all over this one…
(sigh)
August 22nd, 2011 at 3:14 pm
PDF links here: http://satorismiles.com/2011/04/11/the-universe-verse-now-free-as-ebook/
August 22nd, 2011 at 3:52 pm
@MacRat:
From the website linked to above:
Free web view, and free as long as you’re okay with giving him your email address.
@Paradox
And if he took liberties with those, what else might have been tweaked?
I enjoyed Gonick’s series, but had to take issue with his ascribing motivations to biblical characters for which there’s no basis. Speculation is one thing, but it was supposed to be non-fiction (in which case, some of the characters likely shouldn’t have been in there at all…).
But It’s Alive! looks pretty cool!
August 22nd, 2011 at 5:28 pm
I thought Larry Gonick gave an excellent perspective on the Bible stories. The motivations he ascribes are believable. In reading him, you’ve got to separate the caption text, which is usually straight history, from the word balloons, which are usually creative humor.
He does say “Then there’s the question of how much of the Bible itself to believe – but I don’t want to get into that right now, …” (so he’s dodging controversy) And as he says about the Greeks/Trojans stories, “… even if they’re not true, they can certainly tell us something about the people who made them up.”
August 22nd, 2011 at 7:17 pm
Seems odd you have to email for a copy, but on our host’s recommendations I’ll risk it.
August 22nd, 2011 at 8:33 pm
This has been out since the beginning of April. At least, the file date for my copy is April 7, 2011.
Also, I’ve gotten no spam from this guy at all (I emailed him for the high-res copy).
August 22nd, 2011 at 9:15 pm
I can also vouch that I got no spam from him. I did have a question and he gave me a personal answer but no spam.
August 23rd, 2011 at 5:15 am
The “warning” is brilliant!
August 23rd, 2011 at 1:47 pm
Wish you could recommend a similar book for my grandson who is *fascinated* by black holes, speed of light, quantum physics, etc. I’ve already ordered both the Dunbar books for him on your recommendation.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:16 am
C. Tropila, how old is your grandson? My daughter is six but we love Stephen and Lucy Hawkings’ two books on George’s Secret Key to the Universe and George’s Cosmic Treasure Hunt. I have heard good things about Black Holes and Uncle Albert. These books are all for the elementary/middle school age.
August 24th, 2011 at 11:26 am
[...] this has certainly been an exciting few days. Phil Plait over at BadAstronomy.com posted a short little blurb about “It’s Alive!” which led Kristen Philipkoski [...]
August 24th, 2011 at 12:34 pm
Angela: I am ordering all three Russell Stannard books – I read the Hawkings’ books myself and didn’t think much of them. The three “Uncle Albert” books will be perfect. Thanks for the recommendation. CT
September 20th, 2011 at 8:15 pm
[...] love science. NHL does too. So when I heard about James Lu Dunbar and his The Universe Verse series, I just had to check out his work. [...]